Objective:

To probe the relationship between artery elasticity

maximal shear rate (SR) and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in the patients with early essential hypertension.

Methods:

55 cases of early essential hypertension and 50 healthy controls were selected from Shanghai Fifth Peoples Hospital

Fudan University. The IMT

peak icsystolic velocity (PSV) of the carotid arteries were measure

d with high resolution ultrasound. The diastolic diameter (Dd)

pressure strain elastic coefficient (Ep)

stiffness parameter ()

arterial compliance (AC) were detected by echo-tracking (ET) technique.

Results:

Compared with the control group

Ep

and Dd values were increased (

P

0.01)

PSV and SR were decreased (

P

0.01)

and AC value was decreased (

P

0.01) in the hypertension group. There was no difference in IMT value between the two groups. Ep and values had significant positive correlations with IMT (

r

=0.527

0.556;

P

0.01) and a significant negative correlation with SR (

r

=-0.513

-0.537;

P

0.01). AC value had a negative correlation with IMT (r=-0.477

P

0.01) and a positive correlation with SR(

r

=4.58

P

0.01). SR had a negative correlation with IMT (

r

=-0.537

P

0.01).

Conclusion:

There are changes in artery elasticity and SR in early essential hypertension. Lower SR can accelerate the injure of vascular endothelial function and the process of arteriosclerosis.